Are You Spoiled & More ... :) Shangy! >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This sweet, warm, furry one comes inspired from our friend Lee. _ _ /\`-"-`/\ )` _ _ `( {= Y =} \ ^ / /`;'-u-';`\ | / \ | /\ ;__\ / _/ / jgs \___, )~(,,),) (_( Taking A Catnap! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/catnap.html -<>- .---;-, __/_,{)|__;._ ."` _ : _ `. .:::;. .::' jgs '--(_)------(_)--' ` '::' >Speaking of Lee [also my Father-In-Law] -Those in Van Wert Heads Up!- He told us of a recent miracle he had where we are sure Father was looking out for him and his wife. They were returning home down 118 with just a couple miles to go to reach their house in the country when Lee said it felt like his left front tire went flat. Being it was extremely hot and muggy and he is an older gentlemen, he decided to take it slow back home instead of stopping and changing the tire. He thought he was driving on the rim. When he got home however, he found his entire wheel and rim were missing. Totally gone! Of course this shocked him. There were men working on 118 south and he was thankful no one got hurt by his tire flying off. He was surprised too that no one seemed to notice his tire was missing. He went back in his other car looking for the tire but could not see it or it's trail anywhere. He figured they'd find it when they harvest the corn or bean fields around the area. He was asking my husband's advice as what to do. A couple weeks earlier, he had had his tires rotated at Monroe's Muffler's and More Shop on 118 and wondered if we felt he should confront them about his tire. Paul said it had to be them not putting his tire on good as the bolts weren't stripped. It had just fallen off. So Lee left. He called us later to say that Monroe wouldn't accept responsibility for it and so he was stuck with figuring out what to do. _________ / ;~~~~~~`\ ____/ |________\________ / : `\ |> .--.:^^ .--. _<) {____/ .. \___________/ .. \____} \ '' / \ '' / jgs '--' '--' Paul looked for the wheel himself but couldn't find it. There were no drag marks in the road so it was a puzzle until Lee again called us. He did find the tire. It had come off when he turned into his own drive and he found it in his neighbors field. We think this is a miracle. Father was looking out for them, making sure they got home safe instead of winding up in a ditch or head on with some semi truck. The thoughts of what could of happened make us all thank and praise God for his greatness! ======================================================================== >The Saved Birthday Trip Story Editor: by Chris Avera Thomas Wheeler Florida, USA It was 1978, twenty-six years ago. I was eight, and it was my birthday. I was told to make a list of four or five friends who'd enjoy the water theme park in nearby Tampa, Florida. Since we didn't have any spare money, the trip would be a packed lunch and no extras. I didn't care -- I was getting a special treat! The great day arrived and my mother, younger brother, six friends and myself piled into our old beat-up station wagon. We headed out of town for an hour and a half ride to the amusement park, for a day of sun and fun. About halfway to the water park the car started running bad and the "check engine" light came on. My mom pulled the car over. We were stuck, wondering when someone would stop to help. An hour passed. A police officer stopped to see if we were all right and called a tow truck to pick up the car. On the way to the service station, Mom told the officer where we were headed, as it was my birthday and a special treat. The officer dropped us off and left after giving me a short ride _*_ ....iiooiioo __/_|_\__ [(o)_R_(o)] fe in the police car "as a birthday present". At the service station, the mechanic explained the water pump needed to be replaced. The cost, plus the tow, would be $135. Mom started crying and pulled me aside. She explained we wouldn't have enough money to go anywhere but home, and we'd have to save up to go somewhere else for my birthday later. I was disappointed but tried not to show it, knowing even at that age that we didn't have much money. We tried to make the best of the day, the nine of us having a picnic at the service station with the cake Mom had baked. Eventually the mechanic called Mom into the office, saying the repairs were completed, but he had to make a phone call before we could leave. He hung up the phone and said to have a seat and wait. The next thing I knew the police officer came in the door of the service station. He walked up to me with a wrapped present, handed it to me, and wished me a happy birthday. Then he paid the mechanic for the repairs and tow. The officer told mom his family didn't have much money growing up and he knew we didn't either. He said my birthday trip shouldn't be ruined because of something we had no control over. Out of a simple act of kindness this officer changed my life. I'm a single father raising two children of my own now and am not rich, but I remember that day and try to help others in need whenever I get a chance. A small act can change a person forever, and I try to instill this concept into my children's daily lives. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend John-Paul :) ,,,,, ////""\ . (((/ m m -|- __ )))c = ) | (__) ////-./~` . [] (((( `.`\ :: [] )))`\ \)).-;.' .------, [] (() `._.-'` _( )[] )/ `. | .'`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^))\`.----'`[] jgs ( \' { ~ - ~~ _ ~ - ~~ - ~ - (( | | [] .-.--\ \ { )) | | [] |_;_._`\ |{ ((__|_|-----[] | ; ``` ;{ )) [] | /``-.____/ `~~~[]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'-' [] `' (__) (__) >~ "TO THEE, LET ME BE" ~ Let me be as an instrument, of peace; Let all i touch increase, as i decrease, Where there is hate, let me sow Love, Where there is doubt, i give faith. Where there is injury, i give pardon, Where there is drought, let there be Heavenly rain for thy Garden. Where there is despair, i give thee hope a new, Where there is darkness, l shall light a candle for you. Where there is turmoil and sadness, i proclaim Joy! Where there lay fences of confusion, with God`s given strength, i shall destroy. I do not seek to be consoled, but to console, I strength forth my hands, to let love with in unfold. To be understood, as to understand, To be Loved , as to love -- ( the Heavenly plan ). It is in giving, that i so abundantly receive, And in pardoning, that i am pardoned, tis` my reprieve. Oh, but to end All the confusion , And Leave this old body, composed of it`s ridiculous allusions, And to remove all the Worldly Strife, For only then, in dying that i shall be born into ~"ETERNAL LIFE" ~ To~The~Love~of~GOD~~~John-Paul --- ...Sweet! Thanks John-Paul! ================================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: | ' | I / ' \ 8 ' \ / .' , .---. .' , / '.. ` , -- , --== : < : ====----- . . -' .' .' `---' , , ' \ / . / / I ,' \ / .' , ' I / ' .' | ' .' , / / / .' .' .' . , .' / _ . / . (") _ .' '' a___.' \ $"$ ,k , , `---' || ,$..\// / / _ ||//`. (' .' .' , __________ ____ ( '^.`%/ ( x\_ _________________a:f__ / \\ | " |/ `.) ' /J || // (/ .' ' , .a `' `' ' . , / 88 a8 8a 8. ' `8a.8P `88a.88 ,' .' .a8888:a888a `8888' a888888b88P `Y88d88P888a a88b 888 " `"' >A WET WALK By: Joseph J. Mazzella A walk with my boys got cut short the other day. We had been out for just a little while when suddenly the sky turned gray, the wind picked up, and thunder started to roll in from the clouds. We headed back quickly as the drops started to fall. The rain chased us down the trail and soon caught us. We tried to hide for a moment laughing under a sweet smelling Pine tree, but it was no use. We were soon soaked to the bone. It didn't bother us, however. After we got home we dried off and watched happily as the clouds poured some much needed water on the thirsty forest around our home. A short while later the sun broke through the clouds again and brightened the Earth with its golden glow. I smiled, stepped out on the porch, and let it shine on my face too. I could feel its warmth and smell the wonderful scent of thousands of well watered leaves. I laughed again while God's love, joy, and light filled my soul. What a glorious day it had been. I am amazed at how often and in how many ways God is able to touch our hearts, souls, and minds. Everyday we get new learning, new growth, and new love. Everyday we get new experiences that help us to bring a little more Heaven into our lives. Everyday God finds new ways to enlighten us no matter how cloudy our world may seem. He used that wonderful, wet walk the other day to remind me that life isn't only sunny days. Just like nature sometimes we need to get rained on a bit in order to grow. He also reminded me that the best way to handle anything in life is with simple humor and joy. The sound of laughter goes equally well with a delightful walk in the summer sunshine and with a brisk run through the rain in soaked clothes. He reminded me most of all, though, that no matter how long the storms of life may last the sun will always come out again. Have a glorious day then and remember that God is always with you in the sunshine and in the rain. -<,,>- >IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ====================== "And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him! Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." Luke 10: 30-37 -KJV I read in the paper yesterday about a lady who saw a little baby in the middle of a street with cars coming toward the baby. She stopped her car, got out and picked the baby up. She said "I saw a car go around him without stopping. I don't understand how anyone could do that". The little baby boy is only one year old and had wandered from his yard into the middle of the street because nobody was watching him. The police found his dad and arrested him on child neglect. The baby is now under the watchful care of the Department of Children and Families. How sad and how tragic that the dad was not watching his son. He said that he thought somebody else was watching him. I think we all know that a baby that little must be watched constantly because it only takes a couple of minutes for the baby to wander into the street or get into a swimming pool that doesn't have a fence and drown. Yet, we should not point the finger of guilt at the dad unless we are willing to point a finger back at ourselves. I wonder how many times we have seen Christians in the middle of the road with the storms of life and temptations coming right at them and we either ignored them or went around them. Joyce Landorf, a well known writer and speaker, said on one of her teaching tapes "Men and women are leaving full time Christian service in droves because we have not encouraged them. We have impressed them with our spirituality and just knocked a hole in their relationships with others and with God" Not only do we sometimes fail to be an encouragement to our pastors, to our missionaries, to our evangelists and to all who have committed their lives in full time service to Jesus, we fail to encourage new Christians also. May God forgive us! One day we will stand before a Holy God to give an account of the way we have treated our pastors and those He has called into full time service. Jesus tells us in this passage of Scripture for this devotional that the thieves stripped the man of his raiment, wounded him and left him half dead. We do the same thing to our Christian brothers and sisters. We sometimes say critical, sarcastic and judgmental things to them stripping them of their self confidence and sense of worth. Because of the harsh words spoken to them, they sometimes doubt that Jesus can love them if they are that bad a person. We go away leaving them half dead emotionally because of our cruel and thoughtless words. We can tell them we are sorry but the damage has been done. The knife has been plunged deep into their hearts and only Jesus, our great Physician, can take it out through His unconditional love and understanding. May God have mercy on us for plunging the knife into the hearts of our Christian brothers and sisters and walk away leaving them wounded and half dead! http://www.justaminute.faithweb.com -<..>- >When I Said When I said to the Lord "I am so short of where you want me to be." He gently answered "That's okay. That's all the farther you and I can walk together." When I said to the Lord "I don't know who I am." He gently answered "That's okay. I know who you are." When I said to the Lord "I am so tired of fighting." He gently answered "That's okay. Satan is down for the count." When I said to the Lord "My actions aren't reflecting my heart." He gently answered "That's okay. Mine did." When I said to the Lord "My mind is corrupted." He gently answered "That's okay. Use mine for awhile." When I said to the Lord "I don't know how to love." He gently answered "That's okay. I will give you free lessons" Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ==================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Tony in Australia :) >Gods Grace (is ‘in continuum) Part One .===. / _/\ \ \/6.6\/ ( _ ) _)---(_ Who? Me? Spoiled? / `~` \ /\/ \/\ \ | | / \|_____|/ | L | |__|__| | | | |_|_| jgs _|_|_|_ (___|___) Almost 2 years ago now, I was walking through the Mall of our local shopping centre and all of a sudden I heard a young child screaming and running through the crowded space and he attracted the attention of dozens of shoppers who, like me were stunned at the noise this unruly little boy was making. Somehow, I seemed to recognize the squealing and when I looked to see the boy running around squealing , kicking out at people trying to gain control of him and I realized…..it was my Grandson we haven’t been allowed to see for quite some time. This is the third occasion now that we as grandparents are being ‘punished’ by my own son and daughter in-law for being ‘concerned grandparents” My son and I had a disagreement about him throwing our beloved grand daughter into the air and catching her. This all happened in OUR home and over a hard tiled area. One mistake and that child could have been injured badly, Hardly the thing to have happen in our home to our own grandchild. My son took exception to being told that the child, although was squealing laughter, was being ‘abused’. Yes it DOES happen to make a child laugh to be tossed into the air like a football but that doesn’t make it right. Things can happen, bad things! Ropes aren’t meant to break when rock climbers are out ‘having fun”, boats aren’t meant to sink when people go out for a quiet days fishing. Unloaded guns aren’t meant to go off and kill or maim someone, but they do. Why would anyone put a child’s well being at risk? For ‘fun’… I couldn’t quite understand that. I have to wonder where my grandson got his ‘wild streak’ from but I am left with no answer. I have to notice though, that when my son becomes upset or agitated, he also ‘reacts’ in a noticeable way all intended to ‘get his own back’ and not realizing the damage he causes. I also have to admit that he probably got that from the ‘earlier’ me. I used to say to my kids, “I am what people make me”and I was. People could make me angry and so I acted ‘angry’. Sometimes I still do, I hate to be cut off by some ‘speeding idiot’ in traffic! But I don’t set out to hurt anyone for any particular reason assuming that it will make ‘me’ feel better… because it never does. How anyone can get satisfaction by going out of their way to hurt someone purposely, is beyond me. Even worse, when it happens ‘by accident’ Some years ago now,I found some of the things I would ‘say ‘offending’even to myself,so one day after using a word I never used to use, I stopped, sat down and began to take stock of myself and I realise now, I was very much like those children who at times get out of control and I felt “I had to change!” But how? I had no ‘mentor’ in life. My dad was gone years ago and I had no example to follow. I worked for myself so I had no ‘boss’ to look up to and respect. And My father in-law and I learned to ‘tolerate’ each other and that was the extent of that relationship! So….. where to from there? I tried to look for books or articles on the internet about ‘relationships’ and I couldn’t believe it when I found that it takes two to tango! Two to make an argument! Two to make a child! And I began to see that “ Hey! This is NOT just ME! It’s not JUST me that’s wrong! It’s the people the ‘company’ I keep also!.and ‘some’ of my own family. I rarely argued with my wife, so why was it that I argued with others? Why did I set out to upset them and allowed them to upset me? Was it really the ‘norm’.Are all families like that? I can not remember ONE time, when I have gone out of my way to ‘start a fight’! But I cannot remember also, one time when I could have avoided one and didn’t. I was a typical Yorkshire man, “you could tell me lots of things, but you cant tell me much” I do believe I changed,…. and I also believe ‘people’ don’t understand nor accept the changes in me. I could easily say “ that’s their problem’ but that’s not quite true, its also MY problem and if there is ANYTHING that can be done, I should at least try, and then if my efforts are rebuffed? Try again. Well…. I have tried, three times at least with my son and so far to no avail. As for my children? I believe I have done what I can… and now, I give them up to God. I cant change them, but not that long ago I am sure my parents would say that they couldn’t change me, but something did…something did. -<..>- >Gods Grace(is ‘in continuum) Part Two .---. ."""-. // \ \ | .\\\ )' )_| \__/ -( \__ / \ _/ .-;___;-. Who? Us? Spoiled? .-;_(-. / \ / \ /-/| |\-\ /_/| |\_\ \ \| |/ / \ \|___|/ / \ \_____/ / )/\ /|\ /|\ |\\ | | | | | |_____| | | | | | | |_ | _| |-|-| | | | \ | / | | | jgs /-T-\ |__|__| (_/ \_) (_/ \_) I know I will make some of you turn up your eyebrows at me when I say I bet some of us, inspite of not being exactly ‘kids’ act a little like we are at times don’t you think? Do we ever realise that at times, we are like those spoiled little brats we brought up? I suppose it depends on what our personal thoughts of the word ‘spoiled’ means. Some parents watch their kids throw tantrums and say they are spoiled( or maybe its only ‘others’ who say that?)Some spoiled kids just go into their ‘shells’ and pout. Others? Water off a ducks back…(not to many like that though!) Let me see if you are ‘spoiled’… Was there ever a time when we ‘know’ that God is doing His best work in us but its not something we want for ourselves, so what do we do? We ‘rebel’! we just don’t go the way He wants us and we resist and do what Jonah did, He tried to run away. Well, that’s being ‘spoiled’ and acting ‘spoiled’ Just like your kids when they thought you was being unfair or mean, we ‘jack up” and want to do things ‘our ‘way’. Well you think back when your Dad said, “ Son don’t go climbing that tree yonder you will…….CRASH!” And you wish you had listened to him. He was only trying to protect you from yourself but you knew better, you thought he was just trying to spoil your fun uh? Sometimes God does allow a situation to happen if He thinks there is a lesson to be learned, we see that when God sends a famine to ‘enlighten’ a family of brothers when they had been exceptionally wicked and tried to get rid of their little brother! God saw them locked up! Imprisoned! Scared that they may never see light of day again, they began to ‘change’ themselves. God made them see the error of their ways and yes, His punishment could have been far worse than it was, but they reached a point where they were sorry for what they had tried to do but still, they hadn’t at that point, truly experienced the Grace of God when He forgives them for their sins. Still, they remained stubborn and everyone around them would have felt the brunt of their deeds and attitudes. I remember the look on my daughter in laws face when my grandsons put on his tantrum in front of hundreds of shoppers, and I truly felt sorry for her knowing, that it may take years of tempers and tantrums till my grandson ‘grows out of it’ as they say he will. I think he will need more than three score and twenty to achieve that. Where does he get it from? Who knows but my son doesn’t have a temper, he just sulks and allows himself no pleasure in forgiving or being forgiven, so until He ‘changes’ he will not feel the Grace of God. Right now if he did, he wouldn’t even ‘know’ it!. With Josephs brothers, Gods work wasn’t finished and I doubt that His work is finished in my kids, in fact it hasn’t even started, but it will…They haven’t yet learned that digging their heals in just saps their ‘positive energy’ and nothing comes of it, nothing, but ‘negativity’. Stubborness, anger, deciept, jealousy, all of these things Satan uses and eventually , if we don’t fight back with ‘positive’ rather than negative actions, we will lose. I am going on to try to show you that even ‘we’ Christians have certain ‘barriers’ roadblocks in our lives. Lets take a look at Josephs brothers, see if there is anything we recognise. Joseph has ‘growed up some’since his brothers had last seen him, but he recognised them! And it all came back to him! The things they did to rid themselves of the ‘spoiled brat’ of a brother. They come into his presence grovelling for grain and still not recognising him and Joseph attends to their petition, gives them some grain to take home and sends them on their way but…..Joseph takes a hostage! The brothers are to return home without their little brother Simeon He stays behind! Joseph gets his men to fill the sacks with the grain but he also tells the men to put the money they had bought the grain with back in their sacks! They take off for their homeland and they stop at dark and are getting ready to bed down for the night and one is checking his sack of grain is ok and he finds his money! Stashed in the sack of grain! Right away! He thinks that he has been duped! And he shouts to his brothers, “ Look at this! My money is here in the sack! And of course, they all panic! And for the first time in the book, they mention God! “What has God done?” they ask each other in alarm! ( Gen 42:25-28) Strange don’t you think,? That the brothers immediately thought it was GOD! Who was punishing them! Well heres something to think about. Immediately their thoughts of God were negative! They couldn’t have know the truth do their minds run rampant and they panic because it appeared that things weren’t going to go their way! So what had really happened? Had Joseph set his brothers up for a big downfall? Did they have reason to think that they would get caught taking grain without paying for it? And were they about to be punished severely? Well in fact their account had been paid in full! Maybe Joseph himself paid for it I don’t really know, but I do know that God had a hand in it! They got what they needed and possibly more and they didn’t have to pay for it! But guess what? The first thought they had of God was negative! WHY? Did he do this to us? We see that Josephs brothers were wrong in what they did and what they thought…..is there a parallel here somewhere? Are some of us like that? --- Ready or not, Here I come! / ,==. |~~~ / 66\ | \c -_) |~~~ `) ( | / \ |~~~ / \ \ | (( /\ \_ |~~~ \\ \ `--`| / / / |~~~ jgs___ (_(___)_| ...Thanks Tony! I for one KNOW and I warn everyone - including God - that "I spoil easy" so be aware! I do not throw a tantrum but for my own goals, I keep setting them higher - one step at a time - and thus I feel I spoil easy because I don't like going backwards. I want to keep on climbing upwards. Least this is what I think of when I think about being spoiled. I won't settle for less in myself than my best. I want my best to keep improving and changing all the time. Not a brat thing in my minds eye. Not like the tantrum throwing kids or these bad evil brothers. A bit different. The spoil God gives to us via his wonderful world of wonder! So many Ooos and Awws! An abundance of variety He gave to us! Just a huge, vast universe filled to the brim of things to amaze, delight, and spoil us - His children with. God is so good :) We'll continue with this fascinating teaching next week with parts 3&4! ======================================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: _()/^) (^\()_ _)\< >/(_ _.-.-. \\)_ (/\\ (_\_|_/_) \ ` /| (__>(@)<__) ` `` (_/^|^\_) '-'-'#, _/\ `# / _/ |\_ ,#|/_/ \ \|#' `-#' /| /\_# | /_ \_.|#,__/ ^^jgs^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >QUIZ TIME Take a moment or two and take these two short quizes. You won't need a pencil or paper. Just follow along in your mind... QUIZ #1 1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world. 2. Name the last four Heisman trophy winners. 3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest. 4. Name five people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize. 5. Name the last four people who have won Oscars for Best Actor and Actress. 6. Name three people who have held the office of Secretary of State. 7. Name the whistleblowers who were selected as Time's Persons of the Year. 8. Name the past four teams who have won the World Series. QUIZ #2 1. List the three teachers who made the biggest impact on your life. 2. Name a friend who has stood by you through thick or thin. 3. Name someone you can count on to help you in an emergency. 4. Name four friends or acqaintances who can make you smile or laugh. 5. If you ever owned a pet, which one was your favorite, and how did that pet make you feel? 6. Name one person who has made you feel appreciated. 7. Do you have chlidren? If so, what is a quality they possess that makes you proud to be a parent. 8. Name the relatives who have made sacrifices for you. RESULTS ? Obviously, Quiz #1 was much more difficult than Quiz #2. Why? Because after the applause fades for the rich and famous, their achievements are relegated to the almanacs and history books. However, you'll come to find out that even though some people may not have any money and may never get their name in the newspaper, they are the people who make the biggest difference in your life. No, the "important" people in this world haven't won any awards or accolades. Most of the time they lead very simple lives. Their work is unnoticed and taken for granted. But by helping and being of service to their neighbors, students, friends and loved ones, they have made us feel special. They inspire us to do the same. They may not be rich or famous, but they are more important to us than all the celebrities in the world. ======================================================================= >-->From SermondFodder: >Are You Spoiled? I know that this may not apply to your country but it certainly does in mine. It certainly is not this way in Zimbabwe right now if it ever was. In America we used to appreciate the little that we had. It seems now that so many of us can only think of what we don't have and want. May the Lord help us to understand the secret to contentment that Paul explains in Philippians 4:11-13. -Keith _..._ _..._ .~ `~. .~` ~. ,_ / } { \ _, ,_\'--, \ _.'`~~/ \~~`'._ / ,--'/_, \'--,_`{_,} -( )- {,_}`_,--'/ '.`-.`\;--,___.'_ _'.___,--;/`.-`.' '._`/ |_ _{@} {@}_ _| \`_.' / ` |-';/ _ \;'-| ` \ / \ / | _ {@}_ | \ / \ / '--;_ _ {@} _Y{@} _;--' \ _\ `\ {@}\Y/_{@} Y/ /` /_ / |`-.___. / \Y/\|{@}Y/\|// \ .___,-'| \ ^^jgs^^`--`------'`--`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^`--`'------`--`^^^^^^^ Choosy Beggars Long ago, when I was a Washington D.C. latchkey kid, my mother would leave a couple dollars and a list for me to go to the store after school. I'd walk down New Hampshire Avenue to "our"grocery store, load a basket, cross my fingers I'd have enough money not have to put anything back -- then carry my bounty home in a double brown bag. Forty years later I shop in a suburban megamarket forty times larger than that humble grocery store. Between leaving my empty van and returning to fill it with our family's food supply I walk at least a mile, browsing aisles brimming with an assortment of food fit for a king: a dozen apple varieties, a hundred imported cheeses, scores of pasta possibilities, frozen foods galore, an astonishing assortment of breads and an ever-more-outrageous array of ice creams. These days, grocery shopping is more an art form than a survival tactic -- each grocery cart a highly personal eexpression of all we fancy ourselves to be. But oh, how much we've lost -- even as we've gained! It hit me the other morning. In a mustard aisle meltdown, I nearly collapsed beneath the weight of all my choices. A multitude of specialty items -- my cart in standby mode, my hand reaching, then hesitating, the labels becoming a blur. So many mustards, so little time! A similar panic that afternoon at the post office trying to buy a hundred 37 cent stamps. The clerk offered me a vast selection from which to choose -- including Audrey Hepburn, a pair of mallards, Mary Cassatt miniature artworks, Stop Family Violence, and creepy, crawly reptiles. "What about a roll of regular stamps?" I pleaded, the better to avert the mind-numbing selection process: Which stamp would send the right message to my editors? Which would be the perfect expression of Me? That evening I was in the throes of comparing cell phone rate plans when my LVHS junior son Zach brought me a veritable catalogue from which to order his design-your-own senior ring -- 12 models, 10 colors, five cuts of stones and fifty (count 'em!) possible side engravings. The selection took us an hour. Overcome with nostalgia, I spent the rest of the evening searching for and finding my own high school ring. The stone was blue -- our official school color -- the sides engraved with the O'Connell High insignia and 1965. That year our only choice was to order the boy's ring or the more diminutive girl's version. I don't remember feeling shortchanged at all. By contrast, today I feel ripped off, seeing how my most precious resource -- time -- is stolen steadily away with each meaningless decision I make. I'm remembering with fondness the '50s grocery where I chose between white bread and brown, red apples and green, American and Swiss, dill and sweet. Only two mustards graced the shelf then: the regular and its first racy cousin. Today I grab the original like a lifeline, determined to negotiate the remaining aisles of this Vanity Fair with as much detachment as I can muster. And now with extra minutes to ponder the things that matter, I'm seeing there's something even more maleficent than the moments we lose as our marketplace mushrooms. There's the deception by which our sense of freedom shifts from inalienable rights to economic choices -- thus becoming largely an illusion, based on which car you drive, detergent you use or hamburger you eat. Have it your way! The more options Americans have, the more our need for self- determination sated by stupid choices like stamps and mustard and rings -- the less fire we have for the choicess our government continues to withhold (school vouchers) or begins to take away (gun ownership, religious expression). In Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan notes that we cannot avoid Vanity Fair unless we leave this world. But we can pass through without getting caught up in the lust of the marketplace if, as his hero Christian says, we only buy the truth. The truth is that there is only one decison that really matters: "Then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15) When I focus on that choice, the others fade in importance -- and I'm reminded that when it comes to options, sometimes less is more. Barbara Curtis With thanks to Plain Truth Ministies http://www.ptm.org/ =================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Becky :) _..._ .~ `~. ,_ / } ,_\'--, \ _.'`~~/ \'--,_`{_,} -( '.`-.`\;--,___.'_ '._`/ |_ _{@} / ` |-';/ _ / \ / | _ {@}_ / '--;_ _ {@} _Y{@} _\ `\ {@}\Y/_{@} Y/ / |`-.___. / \Y/\|{@}Y/\|// ^^^jgs^^^`--`------'`--`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Of all the friends I've ever met, You're the one I won't forget. And if I die Before you do I'll go to heaven And wait for you I'll give the angels Back their wings And risk the loss Of everything Just to prove My friendship is true I'm thankful to have Family and Friends like you! PLEASE SEND THIS TO ALL YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS ---> Visit my CyberHome - ALWAYS OPEN HOOUSE :)Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/index.html Shangrala ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales && Service You can trust us to provide you with quality computer sales and repair. We've been servicing the Van Wert area since 1981 and can help you with all your computer needs. Please phone us at 419-238-5806 ************************************************************************ -->This is for all you who love food andd DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do :) Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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